Sabine looked forward again in thought. As was usually the case when speaking intimately, she was quiet, "Hmm, there were times where it hurt, mostly at the start. Meesei says that is normal if you are nervous. There were times where it felt good, though. We could try again after I make this potion if you want. In our room, I think." Sabine reached her hand up and behind her to hook around Peiter's head, then brought him into a kiss that was passionate, but cut short by the strain it put on her neck.

Afterwards, Sabine smiled blissfully while staring at Peiter. "Thank you for listening to me. I took a while to...be ready, even here. I love you."

[hr]
There were words in La'khay's response that forced Tzirret into reflection. He did not like what he saw, not one bit, but if La'khay's advice was encouraging him with anything, it was facing down his fears. He breathed through an open mouth and looked into space for a few silent moments, ears still flat. There was nothing else for it.

Tzirret brought his hand up to take the pendant and stood up onto his feet. He ran his thumb over the moon and was glad to find that the blemishes were only soil. He had not damaged it by throwing it to the ground. He closed his hand over the trinket, closed his mouth to swallow, and looked at La'khay with a mix of determination and fear. "If it will help, Tzirret will try," Tzirret said, clearly trying to look stronger than he felt, "He promises to keep the pendant until he finds someone."